Trousers press



P. J. S. CORBY TROUSERS PRESS Aug. 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1962 FIG].

P. J. S. COREY TROUSERS PRESS Aug. 25, 1964 Filed April 11, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III I1MIIII.IIJII l INVENTOR PE TEA d .5. Cone) MM. M'

ATTORNEYS 25, 9 P. s. CORBY 3,145,490

TROUSERS PRESS Filed April 11, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG .4

I INVENTOR P5 TER J .2 Cake) A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,145,490 TRGUSERS PRESS Peter John Siddons Corby, Windsor, England, assignor to Corbys Limited, Windsor, England Filed Apr. 11, N62, Ser. No. 136,758 9 Slaims. (Cl. 3S71) This invention relates to a trousers press and its object is to provide a press which will press a pair of trousers more quickly and will produce a better appearance of the pressed trousers, then known presses.

According to this invention a trousers press has list members between which the trousers are pressed and an electric resistance heating elemer associated with at least one of the said fiat members for heating the trousers during pressing.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be described more fully, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a trouser press in accordance wit the invention, the front board being closed;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on line lI-Il of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section, corresponding to that shown in FIGURE 2, but showing the front board opened;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevation of the upper part of the press with the back panel removed and showing the hinging and spring loading of the stretcher board;

FIGURE 5 is a section on line V--V of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal section on line VIm-VI of FIGURE 1 drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 7 is an elevation of the lower Part of the press, the back panel having been removed, and showing the spring loading of the cuff board;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the rubber mat 6 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings, a base framework, indicated generally at 1, comprises feet 1A which are connected by cross rails 1B and 1C. Fixed to the lower ends of two side members 2 and 2A are metal plates 2B which extend downwardly and fit between the feet 1A. Each plate has a hole 2C which aligns with a hole in the adjacent foot. Sprung into the holes in the plates and feet are two rods 21) which detachably secure the side members to the feet. Connecting the side members at their upper ends is a board 2E.

Fixed in rebates 3 in the side members 2 and 2A are two opposite margins of a rear fiat member 3A, the outside face of the member being slightly below the adjacent edges of the side members. Towards the top of the press is a stretcher board 4 to the rear face of which is fixed a U-section channel member 4A, FIGURES 4 and 5. The stretcher board 4 is carried by a one piece spring steel wire 4B having a central portion 40 which is received in the channel member 4A. It is bent as shown in FIGURE 4, and is formed with aligned portions which constitute journals 41). Each journal has a bearing in a block 4E fixed to the rear face of the hat member 3A. The journals extend from their respective bearing blocks and each projecting part is bent as shown in FIGURE 5 to form a lever arm 4F. Bearing against each lever arm 4F is a spring 4G which is fixed as at 4H to the back of the rear flat member 3A. In order that the stretcher board 4 may lie in a plane substantially parallel to the rear fiat member when the board is in its outward position, as shown in FIGURE 3, the central portion 40 of the wire 4B is slightly bowed, the depth of the channel in the member 4A being such as to receive the bowed portion. Thus the stretcher board 4 is restrained from turning on the wire 4B; but due to the resiliency of the wire, the board 4 may be pressed back to the position indicated in FiGU-RE 5. The more the board 4 is pressed back, the nearer to horizontal the lever arms 4F approach, thus minimizing the effect of the springs 4G and so reducing the strain on a front flat member 6A (to be described) when the press is closed. Towards the lower end of the press is a cuff board 5 which is attached to the rear face of the rear flat member 3A by strips of wood 5A, FIG- URE 7, each about A" thick and of sufficient resiliency to permit the cuff board being pressed rearwardly. Also fixed to the rear flat member is a leaf spring 58 the lower end of which extends over the cuff board so that rearward movement of the board is also effected against the action of the leaf spring.

The rear fiat member 3A, stretcher board 4 and cuff board 5 are covered with a mat-6 of sheet rubber /8 thick, although a different thickness and a different resilient material, could be used. Embedded within the rubber mat is an electric resistance heating element 2 which is arranged to give an evenly spread and gentle heating elfect. See FIG. 8 wherein mat 6 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 is shown in enlarged detail illustrating the electric resistance heating element 2% that is embedded therein. In FIGS. 2 and 3, electrical leads 21, 22 are shown to be connected to plug 23 which can be connected to a power source whenever mat 6 is desirably heated. The element is such that it produces a'temperature of not over F. at the surface of the mat. At a voltage of 230 volts, an element rated at about watts will produce the desired heat.

A front flat member'dA is resiliently hinged at its lower end by a bowed wire 6B which extends across the press and which has its ends engaged in slots 66 in the metal plates 2B, FIGURES 2, 3 and 7. At a mid position, the wire passes through a screw eye 61) screwed into a batten 6E fixed to the front flat member 6A. The resilient hinging of the front fiat member co-operates when the spring loading of the cuff board to grip the cuffs of trouser legs inserted in the press. Since the cult board can be pressed back, accommodation is thus made for the increased thick- .ness of the legs at the cuffs.

Mounted for angular movement in slots 7 in the side members 2 and 2A of the press is a U-shape operating lever 7 having arms 7A. The extremities of the arms are bent downwardly as at 7B for engagement with grooved rollers 7C mounted at the ends of a bar '71) which reinforces the member 6A and which is secured by a batten 7E fixed to the front fiat member. When the member is in'the fully open position, as shown in FIGURE 3, the rollers 7C are engaged by the bent parts 713 and thus limit the extent of the opening of the front flat member.

The arms 7A have cam portions 7F, FIGURE 1, which portions co-act withthe rollers 7C, when the arms are pressed downwardly, to clamp .a garment between the flat front member 6A and the rubber mat 6. The clamping action is augmented by compression springs 76 each having an abutment against the rear face of the rear flat member 3A and that part of the U-shape wire 7 which extends across the press.

When a pair of trousers is placed in the open press (FIGURE 3) with the cuffs lowermost and then the front fiat member 6A is moved to close-the press, the following will take place: (1) the cuffs will be gripped between the lower end of the member 6A and the cull board 5; (2) on continued closing movemenh'the top part of the trousers will be gripped between the top end of the member 6A and the stretcher board 4; (3) tie board 4, during the final closing movement, will be pushed upwardly and to the'right, from the FIGURE 3 position to the FIG- URE 2 position, and the trousers will be stretched, (4) when the press is closed, pressing takes place.

The usual trousers press comprises two flat front members with a space between them to accommodate the extra thickness of the vertical seams of the trouser legs. In the present invention, a single flat front member is provided and the increased thickness of the trouser legs at the seams is received in aligned recesses 3 in the stretcher board, rear fiat member and cuff board.

The normal pressing effect is considerably enhanced by the heating provided, so that a pressing time of to 30 minutes is usually sufiicient. The trousers do not have to be damped, since the normal residual moisture in the cloth is adequate to assist the heating provided, to produce good results.

Preferably, a thermostat 9 is arranged in the centre of the area of the rear flat member 3A to sense the temperature for switching off the element 2% when a given upper temperature is reached and for switching it on when a given low temperature is reached. Preferably also, a timer 10 is in circuit with the element so that the heating period may be set, up to a maximum of say minutes. A pilot light 11 may be provided to indicate that the timer is switched on and that the trousers press is connected to the electricity supply.

The trousers press may incorporate a retractable shoe rail 12, laterally slidable and extendible garment rails 13, a stud tray 14 and a coat hanger 15.

Although it is preferred that the met 6 should be attached to the stretcher board, rear fiat member and cuff board, it may be secured to the front flat member 6A.

Alternatively, the front and rear flat members may each have a mat of resilient material, one or both of the mats embodying a heating element 219.

I claim:

1. A trousers press comprising a frame having supported thereon a rear member, a front member mounted on said frame for selective movement toward and away from said rear member, said front and rear members having opposite ends and also fiat facing surfaces which are operatively engageable with each other, a cuff board located adjacent to one end of said rear member and having a fiat surface which is aligned with the flat surface of said rear member, means resiliently mounting said cuff board in said location for movement in a direction away from said front member, a stretcher board positioned adjacent to the other end of said rear member and having a flat surface, a stretchable rubber mat covering the flat surfaces of said stretcher board, said rear member and said cuff board, an electrical resistance heating element embedded in said mat to provide heat for pressing trousers when said front member is moved into operative engagement with said mat and said flat surfaces, the surface of said front member being of a size sufiicient to overlie all said fiat surfaces, means yieldably urging the stretcher board to a first position in which its flat surface is substantially parallel to and is spaced forwardly from the flat surface of said rear member,

means for supporting said stretcher board for movement from said first position to a second position in which the flat surface of said stretcher board is in substantial alignment and parallelism with the flat surface of said rear member and said rubber mat is stretched, whereby said mat in stretched form provides a backing for trousers laid thereagainst which extends over the fiat surfaces of said stretcher board, said rear member and said cuff board.

2. A trousers press according to claim 1, including means for controlling the temperature range of the aforesaid heating element.

3. A trousers press according to claim 1, including means for determining duration of operation of said heating element.

4. A trousers press comprising a frame having supported thereon a rear member, a front member mounted on said frame for selective movement toward and away from said rear member, said front and rear members having opposite ends and also fiat facing surfaces which are operatively engageable with each other, a cuff board located adjacent to one end of said rear member and having a flat surface which is aligned with the fiat surface of said rear member, means resiliently mounting said cuff board in said location for movement in a direction away from said front member, a stretcher board positioned adjacent to the other end of said rear member and having a flat surface, a stretchable rubber mat covering the fiat surfaces of said stretcher board, said rear member and said cuff board, an electrical resistance heating element embedded in said mat to provide heat for pressing trousers when said front member is moved into operative engagement with said mat and said flat surfaces, the surface of said front member being of a size sufficient to overlie all said flat surfaces, means yieldably urging the stretcher board to a first position in which its flat surface is substantially parallel to and is spaced forwardly from the flat surface of said rear member, means for supporting said stretcher board for movement from said first position to a second position in which the flat surface of said stretcher board is in substantial alignment and parallelism with the flat surface of said rear member and said rubber mat is stretched, whereby said mat in stretched form provides a backing for trousers laid thereagainst which extends over the flat surfaces of said stretcher board, said rear member and said cuff board, said rear member and cuff board having opposite side edges, said rear member having a straight channel-shaped recess in the flat surface thereof which extends between said opposite ends and lies between said opposite edges, said cuff board having a straight channel-shaped recess in the flat surface thereof which is aligned with the firstmentioned recess, said aligned recesses being covered by said mat and adapted to receive the seams of a pair of trousers during pressing.

5. The trousers press of claim 4 and including means for operatively clamping said front and rear members together, said clamping means including a lever pivot ally mounted on said frame, a roller mounted on said front member, said lever having a cam portion which engages said roller for holding said front member clamped against said rear member, said lever also having an abutment spaced from said cam portion which is engageable with said roller when said front member is moved a predetermined distance away from said rear member thereby limiting the opening movement of said front member.

6. The trousers press of claim 4 and including means for operatively clamping said front and rear members together, said clamping means including a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a roller mounted on said front member, said lever having a cam portion which engages said roller for holding said front member clamped against said rear member, said lever also having an abutment spaced from said cam portion which is engageable with said roller when said front member is moved a predetermined distance away from said rear member thereby limiting the opening movement of said front member, and means yieldably augmenting the force of clamping when said front member is operatively clamped against said rear member.

7. A trousers press comprising: two flat members having facing surfaces between which trousers are pressed, one of said members having aligned but separate relatively movable portions forming one of said surfaces, a resilient and elastic, electrically heated mat of rubber material covering said surface of said one of said memers at least to the extent covered by said trousers thereby providing a mat surface on said one of said members, means mounting said portions of said one of said members for movement out of alignment upon each insertion and removal of said trousers from said press, thereby stretching and flexing said mat upon each insertion and removal of said trousers from said press.

8. A trousers press comprising: two flat members having facing surfaces between which trousers are pressed, one of said members having aligned but separate relaaraaaeo tively movable portions forming one of said surfaces, a resilient and elastic rubber mat, impervious to moisture and electrically heated, covering said surface of said one of said members at least to the extent covered by said trousers thereby providing a mat surface on said one of said members, means mounting said portions of said one or" said members for movement out of alignment upon each insertion and removal of said trousers from said press thereby stretching and flexing said mat upon each insertion and removal of said trousers from said press.

9. A trousers press comprising two fiat members having facing surfaces between which trousers are pressed, one of said members having aligned but separate relatively movable portions forming one of said surfaces, a resilient and elastic, electrically heated mat means covering said surface of said one of said members at least to the extent covered by the crease portions of said trousers, thereby providing a mat surface on one of said member means mounting said portions of said one of said members for movement out of alignment upon each insertion and removal of said trousers from said press, thereby flexing said mat upon each insertion and removal of said trousers roin said press.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,885,091 Corby Nov. 1, 1932 2,499,109 Read Feb. 28, 1950 2,626,091 Reguitti Jan. 20, 1953 2,629,948 Bently Mar. 3, 1953 2,757,273 Taylor July 31, 1956 3,022,412 Waters Feb, 20, 1962 3,070,910 De Dube Jan. 1, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,161,841 France Mar. 31, 1958 785,811 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1957 (SEAL) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 145,490 I August 25, 1964 Peter John Siddons Corby It is hereby certified, that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant (only), line 1, for "Peter John Siddons, of Corby, Windsor, England" read Peter John Siddons Corby, of Windsor, England column 2, line 36, for "when" read with Signed and sealed this 12th day of January 19658 Atiest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A TROUSERS PRESS COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING SUPPORTED THEREON A REAR MEMBER, A FRONT MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID REAR MEMBER, SAID FRONT AND REAR MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS AND ALSO FLAT FACING SURFACES WHICH ARE OPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER, A CUFF BOARD LOCATED ADJACENT TO ONE END OF SAID REAR MEMBER AND HAVING A FLAT SURFACE WHICH IS ALIGNED WITH THE FLAT SURFACE OF SAID REAR MEMBER, MEANS RESILIENTLY MOUNTING SAID CUFF BOARD IN SAID LOCATION FOR MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID FRONT MEMBER, A STRETCHER BOARD POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE OTHER END OF SAID REAR MEMBER AND HAVING A FLAT SURFACE, A STRETCHABLE RUBBER MAT COVERING THE FLAT SURFACES OF SAID STRETCHER BOARD, SAID REAR MEMBER AND SAID CUFF BOARD, AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE HEATING ELEMENT EMBEDDED IN SAID MAT TO PROVIDE HEAT FOR PRESSING TROUSERS WHEN SAID FRONT MEMBER IS MOVED INTO OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MAT AND SAID FLAT SURFACES, THE SURFACE OF SAID FRONT MEMBER BEING OF A SIZE SUFFICIENT TO OVERLIE ALL SAID FLAT SURFACES, MEANS YIELDABLY URGING THE STRETCHER BOARD TO A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH ITS FLAT SURFACE IS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND IS SPACED 